Safety razor



De. 1, 1936;- c, A SWTH y f 2,062,683.Y

. SAFETY RAZOR l Fi1ed Nov. 18, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENToR.

ASM/m I Patented Dec. 1, 1936 SAFETY RAZOR Charles A. Smith. Honesdale, Pa., assigner of grr-hal! 'to Harry A. Frederick, Lake Ariel,

Application Numberis, 1935, semi No. 50,436

1s claims. (ci. so-as) My invention relates broadly to razors and more particularly to a construction of safety razorcapable of improved operation in shaving.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a construction of safety razor in which a long period of useful life may be obtained from a razor blade which may be cleaned and sharp- 4ened i'rom time to time while retained in the razor frame.

Another object of my invention is to provide a construction of safety razor in which a micrometer adjustment of the cuttingblade of the razor may be obtained for insuring a high degree of eiliciency in shaving operations.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a construction of safety razor universally adaptable for mounting and employing safety razor blades of various known makes and insuring safety in shaving operations regardless of' the kind of safety razor blade employed in the.

razor frame. l A

A further object' of my invention is to provide a construction `oi razor frame for rigidly mounting a'safety razor blade of various descriptions in a manner whereby the blade may -be washed and cleaned and sharpened without removal from the razor frame.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a construction of razor blade support which may be interchangeably mounted in a razor frame as a carrier for' safety razor lblades of various descriptions for rendering the razor frame universally adaptable for safety'razor blades of various makes and manufacture.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a construction of razor frame'including a wedge-like mechanism for locking the razor blade in position free to be shifted to either a cleaning and sharpening position or a shaving position without removal of the razor blade from the razor frame.

A further object of my invention is to provide Other and further objects of my inventionafter following by reference to theacoompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the safety razor of my invention with a portion of the handle broken away and illustrated in cross section; 5 Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view showing the razor blade in shaving position; Fig.- 3 is a cross sectional view showing the razor frame of my invention serving asa mounting means for a safety' razor blade of thedouble edge 1 type; Fig. 4 shows the safety razor of my invention with the blade carrier released by movement of the manual control means for the displacement of the razor blade to cleaning and sharpening position Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the parts of the razor frame and the supporting means for a safety razor blade in disassembled position and illustrating the relative relation of the several elements constituting the razor frame and bladecarrier; Fig. 6 is a 20 perspective view showing the relative arrangement of parts of the razor frame, and more particularly i the manually controllable means for maintaining the razor blade in shaving position; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary cross sectional view 25 illustrating the micrometric adjustment mechanism for the razor blade; Fig. 8 is a perspec' 'tive view of the carrier for a safety razor blade of the double edge type; Fig. 9 illustrates a safety razor blade of the double edge typeo mounted in position upon the carrier; and Fig.

10 illustrates various types of safety raz'or blades `which may be universally employed in the safety razor of my invention. I have developed the safety razor of myV in- 35 vention with a view of providing a razor frame vmay be available and is not restricted to the i which is universally adaptable for mounting safety razor blades of a large variety of different makes. The owner of the razor of my-invention may use such type of safety' razor blade as 40 use of a limited number of diierent makes of safety razor blades which may ilt a given type of safety razor. That is to say, the owner of the safety razor of my invention is free to employ any of the numerous types of safety razor blades offered for sale. which under conditions of travel and in remote places becomes a condition of very great convenience. The safety razor of my invention is provided with a blade carrier which is resillently mounted with respect to the razor frame and which may be normally locked in, shaving position or which may be manually re leased for displacing the razor blade carrier to a lposition for cleaning or sharpenins.

'A A safety razor blade of the reinforced back type may be mounted in the blade carrier and locked therein by Imeans of a thumb screw operated wedge device. The blade carrier when maintained in shaving position supports the razor blade in a position in which micrometric adjustment may be made and the distance of the cutting edge of the blade with respect to a protective guard adjusted for thereby regulating the closeness of the shave. One' such micrometric adjustment is fixed for any given blade. Such adjustment .may be maintained continuously throughout the useful life of the blade. By reason of the ease with which the blade may be cleaned and sharpened while retained in the razor blade carrier, the life of the blade is extended over a very substantial period.

Where a safety razor blade of the double edge type is employed a blade support is provided for the purpose of mounting the blade in the carrier. The construction of the blade support is such that safety razor blades of various descriptions maybe mounted irrespective of the contour of Athe apertures normally provided for mounting such razor blades in complementary forms of razor frames. A manually operative device is .employed adjacent the handle of the razor frame' for releasing the razor blade carrier and allowing displacement of the razor blade under spring tension to the cleaning and sharpening position thereof without removal of the razor blade from the razor blade carrier. The sharpening stone or'stropping hone may be conveniently carried in the hollow handle of the razor frame of my invention.

Referring moreparticularly to the' drawings, reference character I indicates the main frame of the razor which is apertured and screw threaded at Ia to receive the screw threaded portion 2a. of the handle 2'. The handle 2 is provided with a hollow portion 3 which provides a container for the sharpening or strpping hone. A removvable cover 4 is provided for closing theend of the hollow handle 3. The sharpening or stropping hone is indicated at 5 having faces of dif-r- -ing material shown at 5a and 5b, one of which is used for rst cutting and the other of which is used for securing a finished or ner edge. The

. main frame is provided with an upwardly directed projecting portion 6 which'extends forwardly to provide a yieldably adjustable plate I and rearwardly at each end thereof to provide side portions l5 which serve to support the razor blade carrier as will be more fully explained hereinafter. For the purpose Aof strengthening the vertically extending portion 6 of mainframe I, I provide ribs 6a formed integrally with the material of the main frame and coextensive with the laterally extending'portions of the main frame I and the yieldably adjustable plate 1.

The razor frame is provided with a razor blade protective guard which I have indicated at 8 and which is shaped to generally correspond with the contour of the razor blade frame between the main frame I and` the yieldably adjustable plate 'I. The protective guard 8 is provided with a supporting portion 9 extending substantially normal to the flat portion I0 of the protective guard 8. It will be observed that the at portion I0 of the protective guard 8 is centrally apertured at I0a to allow free flow of water through the razor frame when the razor is washed. Guard support 9 is secured to the main frame I by means of screw device II which extends through the manually adjustable cam member I2 and/through -screw threaded-aperture 6b in vertical extension 6 and screwthreaded aperture 9a in guard support 9. The manually adjustable cam member I2 is provided with an arcuate shaped slot I4 and a finger grip portion I6 by whichthe manually adjustable cam member I2 may be shifted to engaged position or to' releasel position as will be morevfully pointed out hereinafter.'

The arcuate shaped slot I4 in the lmanually adjustable cam member I2 provides a circular locking finger I1 which is adapted to engage lug I8 on the razor blade carrier when the razor blade carrier is maintained in shaving position and' to release the lug I8 when the razor blade carrier is displaced to washing and sharpening position. The razor blade carrier is formed from a metallic housing, shown more clearly in Fig. 5 at I9, having a pair of side projecting portions 20,which t inside the extensions I5`on the vertical' extension 6 of main frame land are pivoted with respectto the laterally extending rod member 2| which passes through apertures in the side projecting portions 20 andare secured in the extensions I5. The extensionsv I5 are each provided with lug members I5a extending laterally toward each other and which serve aslimiting stops for abutment with the side projecting portions 20 when the razor blade carrier is displaced to a position for washing and sharpening the razor blade.

One of the lugs I5a also serves as a confining means for the end 22 of the coil spring 23. The

Aopposite end '24 yieldably engages a notch 25 whichis formed in one edge of the razor blade carrierJ I9. Coil spring 23 isproperly tensioned to normally maintain the razor blade carrier I9 in displaced position, indicated more clearly in Fig. 4. In the`displaced position of the razor blade carrier the razor .blade may be readily washed, sharpened, or renewed.

It will be observed that the razor blade carrier I9 is shaped to provide a housing for the means which conne the razor bladey carrier or the razor blade in position. That is to say, thelrazor blade carrier I9 includes a pair of laterally extending portions directed toward each other. The laterally extending portions are interconnected by a rear portion 26 extending substantially at an acute angle to one laterally extending side portion 21 of the razor blade carrier I9. The wall .ofthe razor blade carrier I9 immediately adjacent the upper extremity of rear portion 26 as indicated at 28, projects in a plane substantially at an obtuse angle to the planeof the rear portion 26. The upper laterally extending wall of the razor blade carrier I9 is shown at 29 extending in a plane at an obtuse angle with respect to the plane of the intermediate wall 28. B'y virtue of the angular arrangement of the walls of therazor blade carrier I am enabled to readily mount a selected razor -blade in the razor blade carrier. In Figs. l, 2 and 5, I have shown the razor blade carrier arranged to support a razor blade of the reinforced rear edge type. The blade is shown at 30 having a rear edge reinforcement 3i. The rear edge reinforcement 3| is confined directly against the upper laterally extending wall 29 of the razor blade carrier by means of the adjustable wedge block 32. The adjustable wedge block 32 is substantially triangular in cross section as illustrated more particularly in Fig. 5. The wedge block 32 has a' central cut- The adjusting A by which the-screw may be advanced or retracted through the wedge shaped block` 32..

f'I'he end of screw 35 is ground to substantially fusto-conical form indicated at 33 adapted to bear against the lower wall21 of the razor blade carrier for forcing wedgeshaped blocl: 32 into engagement with the reinforced edge 3| of the razor blade and rigidly securing the razor blade in position. The razor blade is confined lengthwise in the razor blade carrier by ,abutment with the limiting lugs 39 and 40 at opposite ends of the razor blade carrier. The wedge shaped block 32 is provided .with pivotally mounted bail 4I engaged in opposite ends of the block 32. The bail 4I normally rests beneath the razor blade 30 and directly above the yieldably adjustable plate 1.

When the razor blade carrieris released andl sprung to position for washing.or sharpening the razor blade, the bail 4I 'is used as a means for maintaining the razor blade 30 in rigid position to allow operation of the stropping or sharpening hone 5. The hone/is drawn overone side f the .edge of razor blade 30 which is maintained rigid finger against the bail 4I which in turn rests the yieldably adjustable plate 1. The adjusting against razor blade 30. In the former stropping operation the correct slant for the hone is had by bearing the hone lightly on the bail 4I as aguide; and in the latter operation, the hone is aligned with the edge of the portion 29 of the razor blade carrier. V

Where the razor blade is of the singleedge type as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, I may' protect the edge of the razor blade by means of a cardboard cover device slipped over the cutting edge of the blade.

When the razor is in use, adequate-tension is applied to the blade 30 so that the blade is slightly buckled as represented at 42 for the purpose of elevating the cutting edge from the yieldably adjustable plate 1. or normal shaving operFation the edge of the blade 30 is brought into alignment with marks .1a provided on the side projections 1b on yieldably adjustable plate 1. `To provide for micrometric adjustment of the cutting ,edge ofthe razor blade 30 with respect to the protective guard 8 and with respect to the yieldably adjustable plate 1 I provide thel adjusting screw 43 which is screw threaded through the portion III of guard 8 and'engages-the undersurface of screw 43 is provided with a knurled edge 44 allowing micrometric adjustments to be made with the thumb of the hand which grips the handle 2 of the'razor.

Where a double edge razor blade is employed, I provide a razor blade mounting means or adaptor illustrated more particularly in Figs. 8 and 9. The razor blade mounting means comprises a metallic sheet-like member 45 having a supporting surface which is die-pressed to provide outstruck lug members 46 and 41 which provide ledges adapted to support the centrally apertured portion of the razor blade where the razor blade is of the double edge type. Fig. 9

shown at 48 with strip portions 4I connecting the opposite ends .of portion 43 with plate 4I.

The upturned portion 48 provides a pocket inl whichone edge oi a doublel edge razor blade can `be readily employed using the upturned porf tion 48 in the nature ot a pocket for supporting one edge of the double type shown at I3. y 4

I have illustrated in Fig. 10 various typesoi' edge razor blade ofthe razor blades which the razorof my invention may readily employ. The reinforced back type razor blades have been shown at 5h32, I3, .and

54, all of which may be readilyA mounted in the razor frame in the manner illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 5. The types of razor blades .shown at 55, 56, 51 and/SII are. adapted to be mounted in the razor blade carrier illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9', with one edge of the blade protected within the pocket formed by upturned strip 48. The type se, 61, and es may be readily mounted m the lof blade shown at 58, 59, 60, 6|, 32, 33, 3,4, 35,.

razor blade mounting means by employing lugs 46, 41 projecting through the apertures in the razor blade. The type of razorblade shown at 55 may be supported in the razor blade mounting means by protecting one edge of the blade by the `upturned portion of the razor ,blade mounting means illustrated at 48.

I have found the razor of my invention highly' practical in its construction and convenient in its use. The resilient means '23 are ready at all times to spring the razor blade carrier to oppo. site position-for washing and sharpening. -A

safety razor blade of any description may be readily mounted in the razor frame either by. use of an adaptor as illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9,

, or directly in the razor blade carrier. 'I'he razor blade may be given a micrometric 'adjustment for controlling the shaving operation oi' the razor,

and the razor blade may be washed and sharpvened without removing the blade from the razor frame.

In operation, the razor blade is held in adjusted position behind the guard'teeth 8 by the. engagement of the cam iinger I1 with lthe lug I8 on the razor blade carrier I9. If adjustment of the position of the cutting edge is required,

this is accomplished by means oi the screw 43. After use of the razor, the ilnger engaging lug I6 is manipulated to rotate the cam I2 and release the razor blade carrier which is then automatically moved; to substantially vertical position under action oi' the spring 23. 'When thus in open position, the blade 30 may be easily cleaned or sharpened as hereinbefore explained, and eventually replaced as may be required.

While I have illustrated the razor of my invention in one of its preferred embodiments I am aware that modiiications may be made and I intend that limitations upon my invention are not to be imposed except as may. be required by the scope of the appended claims. j

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1'. A safety razor comprising a razor frame, a

razor blade carrier pivotally mounted with respect to said'razor trame. a yieldable bearing plate, a protective guard extending adjacent the edge of said'yieldable bearing plate, a razor blade mounted in said razor blade carrier andhaving the cutting edge thereof supported on said 'yieldable bearing plate adjacent said protective guard, and means. for adjusting the position of said yieldable bearing plate with respect to saidprotective guard for correspondingly adjusting the position of the cutting edge of the razor blade Y with respect to said protective guard.

2. A safety razor comprising a razor frame, a razor blade carrier pivotally mounted with respect to said razor frame, a razor blade removably supported in said razor blade carriage, a yieldably adjustable plate carried by said razor frame and arranged to Support the cutting edge vof the razor blade, a separate plate carried by said frame land extending beneath said yieldably adjustable plate and terminating in a protective guard extending adjacent the cutting edge of the razor blade, and a screw device extending normal to the plane of said last mentioned plate for engaging a central position of said yieldably adjustable plate for controlling the relative position of the protective guard with, respect to the cutting edge of the razor blade.

3. A razor comprising a frame, a razor blade carrier pivotally mounted with respect to said frame, a razor'blade mounted in said-carrier,

a yieldably adjustable plate supported by said frame and extending beneath the cutting edge of said razor blade, a separate plate supported by said frame a. d extending beneath said yieldably adjustablek pla e, said separate plate terminating.

carrier pivotally mounted on said frame, a razor blade supported on said razor blade carrier, a yieldably adjustable plate extending from said frame in a position for supporting the cutting edge of said razor blade, a protective guard, means for adjusting the position of said protective guard with respect to said yieldably adjustable plate, spring means interposed between said frame and said razor blade carrier for continuously urging said razor blade carrier to a.

position displacing said razor blade from cut^ ting position to cleaning and sharpening position, and manually controllable means for restraining said spring means and maintaining said razor blade carrier in a position in which said razor blade is maintained in cutting -position.

5. A razor comprising a frame, a razor blade carrier pivotally mounted on said frame, a razor blade supported on said razor blade carrier, a yieldably adjustable plate extending from said frame in a position for supporting the cutting edge of said razor blade, a protective guard, means for adjusting the position of said protective guard with respect to said yieldably adjustable plate, spring means interposed between said frane and said razor blade carrier for continuously urging said razor blade carrier to a position displacing said razor blade from cutting position to cleaning and sharpening posiaosacss tion, and a latch device pivotally mounted on said frame and angularly shiftable from aposition restraining the action of said spring means and maintaining said razor blade in cutting position to a position releasing said spring means to a washing )and sharpening position,

6. A razor" comprising a. frame, a razorl bladev Sand permitting vdisplacement: ofthe razor blade carrier pivotally mounted o n said frame, a razor blade supported on said'razorblade carrier, a yieldablyadjustable plate extending from said frame in a position for supporting the cutting,

-edge of said razor blade, a protective guard.

means for adjusting the positio'n of said protective'guard with respect to said yieldably adjustable plate, spring means interposed between said frame and said razor blade carrier for continuously urging s aid razor blade carrier to a position displacing said razor blade from cutting position to` cleaning and sharpening position, a projecting lug projecting from said razor blade carrier, Iand 'a latch device having means engageable with said projecting lug for restraining the action of said spring means,'said latch device being angularly shiftable to release said projecting lug forallowing said spring means to displace said razor blade to washing and sharpensaidA frame and said razor blade carrier for a continuously urging said razor blade carrier to a-position displacing said razor blade from cutting position to cleaning and sharpening position, a centrally arranged lug projecting from said razor blade carrier, and a plate member pivotally mounted on said frame and having an arcuate shaped slot therein forming a substantiallyV curved nger engageable with said projecting lug for restraining the action of said spring means and maintaining said razor blade in cutting position, said plate member being shiftable to a position where said curved finger releases said lug for rendering said spring means operative for displacing said razor blade carrier to a position for washing. and sharpening said razor blade.

8. In a safety razor, means for universally mounting safety razor blades of widely diilering constructions comprising a housing having a pair of converging walls, razor blade mounting means supportable adjacent the inner `face vof one of thesaid walls, a wedge shaped block disposed in said housing, means for adjusting the position of said wedge shaped block between the interior face of the other wall of said housing and said razor blade mounting means for securing said razor blade in cutting position, and a bail pivotally mounted in said wedge shaped block and shiftable to a position bearing against said razor blade for rigidly maintaining the razor blade in washing and sharpening position.

9. An adapter plate for supporting a variety of forms of safety razor blades, said plate comprising a sheet metal member folded-over with the inner'faces thereof in spaced relation, lugs formed at the folded corners of said plate, and outstruck lugs formed in one of the outer faces `5 wardly projecting of said member, said plateadapted to support a razor blade in either of two positions depending upon the structure of the blade, oneof said posi tions being between the spaced inner faces of said folded-over member, and the other of said positions being on the said outer face of said member with the saidoutstruck lugs adapted to maintainthe blade in position thereon.

10. An adapter plate for supporting a Variety l of forms of safety razor blades,v said plate comprising a sheet metal member folded over with the inner faces thereof in spaced relation, means for supporting a two-edged blade between said faces with the cutting edges thereof out of con l tact withsaid member, and means for supporting a blade on one of the outer faces of said member, either of said means'being separately oper able to support a razor blade in a universal blade mounting device.

:0 11. In a safety razor, a frame projecting for-,-

wardly and rearwardly, a handle depending from said frame, a support for a razor blade adjacent the forwardly projecting portion of said frame, a razor blade carrier pivoted adjacent the rearportion of said frame, a razor blade supported in said razor blade carrier. spring means for normally shifting said razor blade carrier to a position in which the razor blade is maintained in a plane substantially par- 0 allel with the axis of the handle and in a posi- 'tion for Washing and sharpening, said razor blade carrier being shiftable to a position for moving said razor blade to a position in which the razor blade is supported on said adjacent the handle of said razorfor restraining said spring means and maintaining said razor blade carrier in a position for pressing the razor blade in cutting position. Y JI 12. A safety razor comprising a substantially perforate skeleton frame, a handle support for said frame, a razor blade supporting member razor blade'P D support, and a latch operative from a position adjacent one side Iof said frame, a razor blade carrier pivotally mounted on the opposite side of said frame, a razor blade mountedin said razor blade carrier, spring means for normally urging said razor blade carrier to a position displaced from said razor blade support, and latch means carried by said frame androperative to engage said razor blade carrier for maintaining said razor blade carrier in. a position in which the i razor blade carrier, spring means for normally urgingl said razor blade carrier to a position displaced from said razor blade support, latch means carried by said frame and operative to engage said razor blade carrier for maintaining said razor blade carrier in a position in Which'the razor blade is mounted adjacent said razor vblade support while restraining the action of said spring means, said latch being removable to a, position to release said razor blade carrier to a position displaced froml the aforesaid position so that the razor blade may be washed by passing fluid through said perforate frame, and an angularly shiftable member connected with said razor blade against said 'razor vblade for rigidly maintaining the,razor blade in a position in which a sharpening hone may be drawn adjacent the cutting edge of the razor blade.

CHARLES A. SMITH.

carrier and adapted to bearl 

